TennCare's Opioid Strategy

TennCare has long worked to confront the impacts of opioid misuse and abuse. Going forward, we plan to implement additional strategies as we recognize the growing complexity of this problem in our state.

Reducing the risk of TennCare members becoming newly dependent or addicted to opioids;

Increasing patient engagement, early detection of dependence, and evidence-based pain treatment for TennCare members chronically using opioids;

Increase outreach to women of child bearing age chronically using opioids to provide education and treatment options;

Further remove barriers to access for Voluntary Reversible Long-Acting Contraceptive (IUD’s and implants) for women; and

Supporting high-quality addiction and recovery treatment services for TennCare members who are dependent, misusing, or abusing opioids and other substances.

This page will include important documents and information regarding TennCare’s opioid strategy.

TennCare Changes to the Coverage of Opioid Effective January 16, 2018:

Effective January 16, 2018, TennCare will implement an edit on agents in the Short-Acting and Long-Acting Narcotics classes of the Preferred Drug List (PDL) that will impact all first-time and non-chronic opioid users.